[Sonographic studies during drug treatment of diabetic gastroparesis]

Ultrasound examination of ten insulin-dependent diabetics with neuropathic gastroparesis demonstrated that gastric motility can be increased by intravenous injection of both cisapride and metoclopramide (Paspertin) (P less than 0.05 to less than 0.0005). During a one-hour period of observation stimulation lasted longer after cisapride than metoclopramide, but there were no qualitative differences between them. Compared with healthy subjects the frequency of antral contractions was increased after both drugs (P less than 0.05 and less than 0.025, respectively). Intensity and speed of contraction was less in patients than in the control subjects, but this effect was significant only for speed of contraction 20 min after injection of the drugs (P less than 0.05). The results indicate that ultrasonography makes it possible to monitor drug treatment of abnormal gastric emptying in diabetics by measurement of both frequency and degree of antral contraction.